A.R.E. Blog

Spending the Night in the Great PyramidBy Ann Jaffin, MS

In November 1976, I went on my first A.R.E. overseas tour to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. This fabulous adventure with over 100 participants was led by Hugh Lynn Cayce, the elder son of Edgar Cayce. With special permission, small groups of our members were allowed to spend the night in the King’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid! I eagerly volunteered and, although sleeping on a thin mat on a very dusty stone floor was uncomfortable, I was so excited that nothing else mattered.

We were locked inside the pyramid for the night with a portable toilet around the corner. Our group voted to have a candle lit since when the electricity was turned off, this mysterious chamber was totally and completely dark. Mark Lehner, who has become a renowned Egyptologist, told us that if any problem arose, we should just say “Zahi, Zahi” to the guards. For many years, Dr. Zahi Hawass was the senior official in charge of the monuments on the Giza Plateau. Mark went on to help measure and map the Sphinx with great detail and accuracy and to lead the excavation of the Lost City of the Pyramids where the workers who built these wonders had lived.

Recently I came across the notes I made during the night I spent in the pyramid:

Our chanting sounded like pipe organs.

During meditation, something brushed the bridge of my nose. Could it be a fly or a mosquito? (Or something else more ethereal, I now wonder.)

Our pyramid-shaped candle cast a shadow on the wall that was shaped like a hooded figure.

At some time, I thought I heard a dog whine. (Interesting in view of my dream below.)

The Great Pyramid

Despite sleeping poorly, I recorded a dream that revealed some of my anxiety about this unique experience:

I dreamed we were in a pyramid in Tibet. A wild and mangy dog got in the gates and came in where we were up on top of small picnic tables. I was afraid. The dogs ate and growled, and I turned over two tables in fright. Somehow I crossed the room, but I wanted to get back to where I had been. The guards were Arabs with rifles, and we all wondered how the dogs had gotten in. By the time we left, we felt better about the dogs.

During our stay in Cairo, our tour members were able to participate in three psychic experiments designed to test the effects of the Great Pyramid on clairvoyance, telepathy, and dreams:

After meditating in the Great Pyramid, we were asked to sketch or write a description of the contents of a sealed envelope. Then after meditating outside of the Great Pyramid, we were asked to do the same thing with a different sealed envelope.

We were asked to record our dreams, knowing that each night that we were in Cairo, Charles Thomas Cayce, Edgar Cayce’s grandson, would pray for all of us whether or not we were sleeping in the Great Pyramid. While praying, Charles Thomas would be looking at a target picture. Later, our dreams were examined to see if the target picture had been incorporated into them, and whether or not this occurred more frequently for dreamers sleeping inside or outside of the pyramid.

Those who chose to sleep in the pyramid were asked to seek a dream by formulating a question focused on either our group’s common spiritual purposes or on a personal concern.

After we returned home and the results of the experiments were analyzed, Charles Thomas wrote a letter to the group outlining some of the results:

With the picture-drawing experiment, there was no difference in the number of ESP hits inside or outside of the pyramid.

With the dream telepathy experiment, there were more hits outside of the pyramid than inside it.

It seemed that the pyramid shielded individuals inside the King’s Chamber from outside influences. Since the Cayce readings say that the Great Pyramid was a temple of initiation in which Jesus and John the Baptist underwent spiritual training and had mystical experiences, it would seem that shielding initiates from external influences would have been very important.

Ann Jaffin, MS, a life member and field volunteer of A.R.E., has been a member of an A Search for God study group for 40 years. Retired from the federal government, Ann has a master’s degree in Family and Community Development from the University of Maryland. In addition to writing several articles for Venture Inward magazine, she is the author of the book Past Lives and Present Karma. She is a frequent speaker at A.R.E. events, a dedicated user of Cayce’s remedies and therapies, and she has traveled the world, often with A.R.E. Travel & Tours.
Ann and her late husband Stan were stunned to discover out that several members of Stan's extended family had Cayce readings. They identified readings for 20 family members and 14 friends and interviewed the recipients all over the U.S. and in Europe. You can learn more about the Jaffin family in our Virtual Library under the Jaffin Family Archives and Research Project.

Peopling of the Americas
By John Fuhler

The Edgar Cayce readings document a complex process for the peopling of the Western Hemisphere. According to the readings, the “red race” appeared in the American Southwest and the “brown race” appeared in the Andes. Lemurians settled parts of the American Southwest. Then, Atlanteans arrived in multiple waves, settling eastern North America and parts of South America. At a later date, natives from the Yucatan and from South America settled parts of the American Southeast.

Also identified are several other groups that influenced the Americas, including what the readings call “The Lost Tribes” or “The Children of Promise.” These epithets refer to the Children of Israel who were dispersed to the nations when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and razed King Solomon’s temple. The readings refer to another group as “those who crossed Beringia.” These were the people from East Asia who crossed the land bridge between Siberia and Alaska some time during the most recent Great Ice Age. The third group, the “Norsemen,” or Vikings, came from the Norse land, or what is now known as Norway.

Beringia area coverage Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/

At least six life readings indicate that the Lost Tribes (or Children of Promise) settled areas of the Aleutians and parts of the American Southwest.

…the entity was among those when the strangers from the East…the remnants of those people who were of the tribes that were lost…that had settled in the Aleutian Islands… (Edgar Cayce Reading 620-1)

…the entity was in the…land of nativity…when there were the activities of those peoples that were dispersed by the carrying away of the children of promise into captivity…who escaped across the waters into what is now the southwestern portion of…(America). (Edgar Cayce Reading 2540-1)

Only one reading refers to trans-Beringia migrants:

Before this we find the entity was during those periods when there were the settlings in the land that is now known as the Northwest, when there were the entering into this land of those peoples from across what is now known as Alaska or Bering Straits, those individuals that journeyed into the lands now known as the Columbia River section. (Edgar Cayce Reading 620-1)

And some 18 readings reveal that America was populated by peoples from the Norse land. Their activities extended from as far south as New York State, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and as far west as Minnesota.

…we find the entity, from the Norse land, came with those groups who remained in that known as Vinland, or a portion of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts… (1650-1)

…the entity was in the Norse land…and made many of the excursions into the various parts and lands. And that which eventually came to be the short way across New York State… (3042-1)

Before that the entity was in the Norse land, among those who journeyed into the greater western portion or near to the central portion of Minnesota… (3651-1)

The evidence for the presence of these groups in the Americas varies in quality. An abundance of anecdotal stories of the Lost Tribes in the Americas has circulated since the 16th century, but to date no incontrovertible evidence has surfaced.i In regard to those who crossed Beringia and the Norsemen, we stand on much firmer ground. Genetic and linguistic evidence affirms that the former refers to the ancestors of the Athabascan Indians, whose languages are closely related to Chinese and Tibetan.ii And the first confirmation of Norsemen in North America outside Greenland came to light in the 1960s, when archaeologists discovered unequivocal evidence at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. Since then several Norse sites have been confirmed on Baffin Island, Canada, as well as on Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland. iii

The readings provide information about two other possible influences on the Americas: Aliens and Phoenicians.

The entity was among the priestesses of the Mayan experience. It was just before that period when…there were the beginnings of the unfoldments of the understanding that there were…those that were visiting from other worlds or planets. (1616-1)

…the entity’s own peoples then were the first of the Syro-Phoenician groups extended off the borders of the Mediterranean; yea…even into the Sargasso Sea… (1159-1)

Although a modicum of evidence for the presence of the Phoenicians in America existsiv, the readings provide no information about that.
Repeatedly various disciplines have confirmed the veracity of certain details provided by the readings. Many other details await corroboration. And so the stage was set for the great influx of Europeans that began in the 16th and 17th centuries that changed forever the cultures and civilizations they found.

John Fuhler has been involved in the field of alternative medicine for more than 25 years. He received his BA in anthropology from the University of Illinois and studied in Glasgow, Scotland, and Portland, Ore. As an amateur archaeologist, he participated in projects in Ariz., Calif., Hawaii, N.M., and Wis.; reporting discoveries in Ore. and Scotland. His tribal affiliations include: Saxon, Friesian, Bohemian, Irish (O'Meagher clan), and Wyandot. He volunteers his skills with organizations supporting the homeless, forest services, and families. He enjoys reading the bible in Greek and Latin.

i Nova has an interesting article covering this topic at their website: pbs.org/wgbh/nova/israel/losttribes2.html ii Ruhlen, Merritt. 1991. A Guide to the World’s Languages. Vol. 1: Classification. Stanford University Press: Stanford. 388-9.iiinews.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121019-viking-outpost-second-new-canada-science-sutherland/; lanseauxmeadowsnewfoundland.com and livescience.com/37189-new-viking-voyage-discovered.htmliv Fell, Barry. America B.C.: Ancient Settlers in the New World. (Revised ed.)

The Supernatural Crossroads: The Threshold between the Seen and the UnseenBy Darrin Owens

The crossroads, a place where two roads intersect, is the subject of many religious and old-fashioned folk belief systems worldwide. In my neighborhood, most crossroads are outside the borders of a town or intertwined in deep hollows in the countryside. These locations are often considered to be supernatural. As a child, I lived near a crossroads. There were two well-worn dirt roads that crossed each other, smack-dab in the woods. I was a country kid, and we lived in the boonies. When I disappeared, my mother would always go looking for me at the crossroads. There I was, sitting right in the middle of it. Even then, I must have realized there was power there, a thinning place of the veil between worlds. I believe there is a crossroads for every realm of the supernatural.

The crossroads legend became popular with the story of the renowned, American blues singer Robert Leroy Johnson and another musical colleague, Tommy Johnson. Both say they met a mysterious helper at the crossroads… According to the legend, as a young man living on a plantation in rural Mississippi, Robert Johnson wanted to become a great blues musician. He was instructed to take his guitar to a crossroads at midnight. There he was met by a mysterious black man who took the guitar and tuned it up to perfection. The crossroads spirit played a few songs and then returned the guitar to Johnson, giving him mastery over the instrument. Robert Johnson was able to create great blues music and become famous for it. I have always loved that story. As a matter of fact, Robert Johnson’s music in the background is helping me to write this chapter; that is inspiration at its best!

Robert Johnson's studio portrait, circa 1935 Source: Wikipedia

With further research and study, I have learned that the idea of a crossroads as a supernatural entryway is not uncommon. The crossroads is a place that is not claimed by the living or the dead; it’s an in-between place where our physical world and the supernatural world merge. While investigating house hauntings, I have experienced several instances in which the origin of the supernatural happenings happened at the crossroads near those houses.

In this work, I’m going to describe my experiences, insight, and thoughts about the supernatural. I am on a symbolic journey and standing at the crossroads to record a very elusive reality that at one point or another will cross the threshold into our everyday existence. At that time, we will be forever changed in the way that we see life, death, and destiny. With each chapter, you will enter a different crossroads into other realms, deepening your understanding of what resides behind the inspirited curtain that separates us from the others…Whenever I pass a crossroads, I always feel comforted by the fact that no matter how concrete, plastic, or fake this world gets, there are still some actual supernatural wonders and magic somewhere in this great country of ours. No one can duplicate or fake the real supernatural. The answers are at the crossroads, and we are all headed there to see what wonders await. …

From Chapter 3, The Nature Realm

As you walk into a thicketed forest, you can smell the evergreen foliage with its sweet, woodsy fragrance. You might feel the wind blow past as it takes a journey through the trees to parts unknown. The stillness of nature calls you to travel deeper and deeper into its realm. You realize at this time that you are hypnotized by the earth’s intelligence and wisdom and that the wind is actually guiding you to the core of nature’s beating heart. That core is like a distant drum, forever vibrating the song of God’s creation. I am amazingly in love and completely devoted to the power of the Nature Realm in all her glory. I say “her” because we are going to delve into the kingdom of Gaia, which is Mother Earth. …

… If you work with nature, nature will work with you. I’m often asked if humans can travel to the Nature Realm. As you have read, there are times when the veil thins, and we can take a peek into the faery world, but those are rare occurrences. If you are not fully in accord with the laws and support of Gaia, Mother Earth will not let you anywhere near her realm or her children. Our fur people, the animals and our pets, also have devas to guard them. Dogs, cats, and even creepy crawly creatures all are governed by their own specific devas. It’s truly amazing how congruent and well-ordered the supernatural realms are. All of God’s creations and mysteries are enveloped in his grace.

Darrin William Owens, psychic and supernaturalist, is the bestselling author of Reader of Hearts: The
Life and Teachings of a Reluctant Psychic andBecoming Masters of Light: Co-Creating the New Age of
Enlightenment. For more than 18 years, he has brought authentic enlightenment to countless souls
through a powerful psychic gift that he has carried since birth. Since 1995 he has maintained a highly
successful consultation practice, providing accurate readings to clients on an international scale. His
website is DarrinOwensOfficial.com

Noah the Movie – A Missed Opportunity, part one By Kevin J. Todeschi

Having been an Ark enthusiast for more than 30 years, I had some measure of anticipation when I first heard about the recent Noah movie: Would the movie capture some of the archetypal significance that resulted in Flood Stories for nearly every culture and civilization on the planet? Would it bring together the tales from various scholarly traditions? Would it explain unexplained portions of the Genesis account? Would it follow some of the same threads of information that had so inspired me? And so on. Unfortunately, I have to say that five minutes into the movie any anticipation I had went right out the window, as the film I watched had absolutely no bearing on the Noah I have come to know.

Wikipedia:12th century Venetian mosaic depiction of Noah sending the dove

As background information, I was first inspired by the Noah story while reading the Genesis account and realizing two things that had never been pointed out to me: Methuselah was Noah’s grandfather, and the scriptural timing for each individual’s respective lifespan suggested that Methuselah had died during the Flood. My passion for the story was further enhanced while reading an Edgar Cayce life reading (those readings dealing with reincarnation) that was given to a 28-year-old woman in 1944, when Cayce stated: “What an unusual record—and one of those who might be termed as physically the mothers of the world! For the entity was one of those in the ark.” (3653-1)

Eventually I was led to Violet Cummings’ book that dealt with her husband’s search for the Ark: Noah’s Ark: Fact or Fable? And I came to understand that since 1840 alone there have been more than 20 recorded sightings of Noah’s craft by approximately 200 people. My enthusiasm for the story grew, and I scoured dozens of resources. I eventually wrote my master’s thesis on the topic of “The Ark Myth: Biblical, Rabbinical, and Transpersonal,” (1988), and in time my novel, The Rest of the Noah Story (2010), pulling together all that I had discovered through many decades of research and study. Unfortunately for today’s movie goers, the producers didn’t even get the Genesis account correct.

The movie contains giant rock creatures (similar to the Ents, large tree creatures in Lord of the Rings or the rock monster in Galaxy Quest—I am not making this up)! From the movie’s perspective, only Shem has a wife aboard, which contradicts the Genesis account: “In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark.” (Genesis 7:13) Causing quite a bit of frustration for at least one of Noah’s other sons. There is also an evil stowaway onboard, Tubal-cain, who in the Bible is Noah’s cousin and a maker of iron and brass (Genesis 4:22). The movie also has Noah convinced that his mission is to help God put an end to humankind, at one point coming to the brink of almost killing his granddaughters so that no further wombs will be available to birth humankind.

There is a wealth of rabbinical wisdom and inspiration that the movie also overlooks or never knew of to begin with. Rather than having a vision of Enoch (a biblical forefather that never died but was “taken up” by God [Genesis 5:24]), Noah has a crazed dream. Rather than drawing upon some of the rabbinical thought as to why Ham deserted his family and became a wanderer and the eventual father of slaves, the movie version portrayed him as mad at his dad for allowing his girlfriend to die in a mob stampede. The list goes on and on.

Wikipedia: Noah's Sacrifice by Daniel Maclise

Perhaps more than any other Biblical tale, the story of Noah, his family, the Ark, and the Flood are known by individuals all over the world. A conservative estimate is that more than 1.5 billion of the earth’s inhabitants are familiar with the tale! However, the story of Noah is not the only known Flood Tradition. In fact, the “Epic of Gilgamesh” from Babylonian tablets dates back to the 7th Century B.C. and is also widely known.

This story, in essential detail, can be recited by countless individuals around the world. What is not so well known is the fact that Genesis contains not one account of the flood story but two! Modern religious scholarship has isolated at least three major sources for the Book of Genesis: the “J source,” the “P source,” and the “E source,” standing for Jehovah, the Priestly document, and Elohim, respectively. It is the J source and the P source which each have their own account of the Flood.

Originally, the different sources of Genesis were discovered because of the way in which the sources referred to God. The J source uses only the name “Yahweh” (Lord) when referring to God; the P source uses the names “Elohim” (God) and “El Shaddai” (God Almighty), and the E source uses both “Yahweh and “Elohim.” When the Bible was being compiled (no, it did not fall from the sky in one piece), it was the job of a “redactor” to compile all major sources together into one story, but in several instances it is easy to see items in the Noah story that were overlooked by the redactor. Examples: 1) each account has a different number of animals that Noah was instructed to take into the Ark, and 2) each account has a different length of time for the Flood itself.

P Source

Total number of animals = One pair of each creature (Genesis 6:19).

Total length of Flood: The water lasted 150 days and remained on the earth for a total of one year and 11 days.

J Source

Total number of animals: Seven pairs of birds and “clean” animals, and one pair of unclean (Genesis 7:2). Essentially a “clean animal” is one which chews a cud and has a divided hoof (Leviticus 7:1-11); a clean animal never eats other animals.

Total length of Flood: The rain lasted 40 days and 40 nights and the water evaporated after three seven-day intervals of Noah releasing the dove out of the Ark to see if it was safe. Total = 61 days.

Regardless of whether or not we believe the Flood story, it is an archetype, because it is a part of the human experience all over the world. More than 200 “Flood Stories” are scattered throughout the various cultures and continents on the planet. The story has meaning across time and traditions and, as an archetype, is a symbol that deeply touches some aspect of human experience. What this means is that over and above any possible literal truth, the Ark can be seen as a symbolic representation of transformation and change, because the ship’s occupants underwent a journey over which they had no control and yet somehow ended up at a higher level of awareness because of their catastrophic experience. In most of these accounts, legend describes how a family survives a deluge of enormous proportions. Prior to the disaster, the family generally pulls together everything that is part of their world (such as the animals in the story of Noah described in Genesis) and finds refuge in a craft or a ship in which they can ride out the storm. Oftentimes, the family has no control over their journey for the ship is inundated from above and below and they are forced to simply ride out the storm. At the end of the flood, the craft generally finds higher and stable ground and the occupants can disembark and begin their lives anew. Everything that was a part of their old world is now a part of their new (e.g., the animals get off the Ark as well). The difference is that now all of the ship’s occupants find themselves upon higher ground.

Because so much of the today’s world finds itself in the midst of transformation and change, this archetype has resurfaced. However, take my advice—skip the movie and read the Genesis account.

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